Biography of William HamiltonFROM: History of Livingston County,
New York
By James H. Smith
Assisted by Hume H. Cole
Published By D. Mason & Co. 1881

WILLIAM HAMILTON.

William Hamilton is the eldest son of James Hamilton, who was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, June, 1808, and
who was son of William Hamilton, a farmer of the same place. James remained upon the homestead with his parents
till twentythree years of age, when, in March, 1832, he married Grace Naron, and soon after immigrated to America.
In 1833 he settled in Livingston county, where he followed the occupation of farming, and died in February, 1878.
His wife died in December, 1873. They had eight children, as follows: William, James who died in infancy, James
2d, now residing in Ohio, Jeannette, Alexander, who died in Nevada from injuries received in the mines, John B.,
Grace Ann, and Margaret.

William Hamilton was born in LeRoy, Genesee county, December 25, 1832. His early life was spent on a farm, and
his education was such as the common schools afforded. In 1853 he taught school in Michigan, and in 1856 went to
Minnesota, returning in 1857. In 1859 he was married to Jane, daughter of Robert Vallance, Esq., of York, and settled
in Caledonia, where he now resides, and is one of the leading business men of the place. It is to his invincible
energy and active business ability that Caledonia is indebted for many improvements. Mr. Hamilton is a farmer grain
dealer and maltster. In politics he is a Democrat, and although always taking a lively interest in important public
questions, has never aspired to political position. He has been Highway Commissioner for nine years, and town Supervisor
six years, holding the latter office at the present time. In religious sentiment he is a Presbyterian, and is now
acting as Secretary and Treasurer of the First Presbyterian church of Caledonia.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have had five children, four of whom are now living, viz. : William Valiance, who is now
at Cornell University, Nellie Jane, Mary Elizabeth, and James Alexander.

Mr. Hamilton has ever been ready, not only to lend a helping hand and render assistance to all feasible movements
towards furthering the industrial interests, growth and public improvements of his town, but has always taken a
great interest in the agricultural pursuits of the county, and has given the most hearty support to all efforts
and measures tending to the advancement of the agricultural interests of Western New York. Mr. Hamilton is a man
of unusual enterprise and activity. He early learned to rely upon self-efforts for advancement in the world, and
by business habits, persevering industry, integrity of purpose, and honorable dealing, has won a deserved success.

He is eminently a self-made man and one of the representative business men of Livingston County.

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